Obituary of Marguerite Helen Hanratty

Marguerite Helen (Miller) Hanratty UE (nee Brown) of Fort Erie passed away on Friday, November 24, 2017. Marguerite was born in Bridgeburg (Fort Erie) September 19, 1920. She was predeceased by her son Benjamin A. Miller UE (2012), husbands Thomas P. Hanratty (2001) and Arthur A. Miller (1965), sisters Dorothy (Henry) Buss (1985) and Mildred Brown (2001). She is survived by her children Marian Miller UE, Fort Erie and Arlene (Albert) Barber of Powassan, three grandchildren: Andy Barber, David Barber and Valerie Costello and a great grandchild Samantha Barber and several nieces and nephews. Marguerite was retired from the professional research staff of the State University of New York at Buffalo and from the Niagara South Board of Education Staff Relations Department. She served on the executive of Community Living – Welland and was on its teaching staff before founding Community Living – Fort Erie where she was its first Teacher and Principal. Later she was elected to the Board of Directors, CL-FE, holding various offices including that of President. She was honored with a Board Member Emeritus designation for outstanding service. She was again honored in 2007 as Founder, on the 50th anniversary of the founding of CL - FE. Marguerite also served on the Regional Family Advisory Board for Long Term Care, the former Niagara District Health Council Long Term Care Committee and the Family Council of Gilmore Lodge Home for the Long Term Care, Fort Erie. She was a member of the Council of Women, PALS (Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society), the Ontario Health Coalition, Great Lakes United, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Ontario Genealogical Society, Bertie Historical Society, the Scottish Clan Lamont Society of Canada, Col. John Butler Branch (Niagara) of the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada for her Loyalist ancestors, Cornelius Bowen and William Bowen and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution for her Patriot ancestor Job Simmons. Cremation has taken place. Friends are invited to a gathering to share memories at the Williams Funeral Home, 722 Ridge Road North, Ridgeway on Friday, December 1, 2017 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Private family interment at McAffee Cemetery. A Linden Tree has been planted in McAffee Cemetery as a living family memorial. If desired memorial donations to the charity of one’s choice would be appreciated be her family.